Method of purifying coal-gas and collecting by-products.



v r T. MQWATTBRS.

MBTHDD OF PURIFYING GOAL GAS AND COLLECTING BY-PBODUGTS.

APPLICATION FILED M220, 1901.

' Patented June 29,- 1909.

5 BHBETS-BHBBT 1.

WITNESSES.. 7?

mveurua- JKMMMW T. MQWATTERS.

METHOD OF PURIFYING GOAL GAS AND COLLECTING BY-PRODUQTS.

V APPLICATION FILED BBPT.20, 1901. 926,852.

- Patented June 29, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITN ass t m ,M VNVENTURQ .W WW 5' w w T. MGWATTERS. mmnon or PURIFYINGGOAL GAS AND COLLECTING BY-PRODUCTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1901. 926,352, Patented June 29, 1909.

m u H g T L wn'NEssEs- T. MGWATTBRS. METHOD OF PUBIFYING COAL GAS ANDCOLLECTING BY-PBODUGTS. v APPLIOATIOH PILBD'SEP1.20, 1901.

926,352. r 5 v Patented June 29, 1909.

a sums-sum 4.

METH ID 01 mm A y. 11 B 0 E 9. H M w R mm w w m m m M M m m 8 L 4 y B lI!- HLH ri UH||\\.H h IY'II U Inl l l m w V W A Q. r

' l t l Y L i l g j; elevation of one of the washers. Fig. 3 is V 4 lg.1-3 an end new. nartly in MTHUD, of

PATENT ()lilfl E.

PXETHOD OF I'U'RIFYING CGAL-GAS AND CDLLECTING BY-IRODUCTS.

No. 926,352. Specification of Appliration riled September :1 .'-1ubje :1of the King f 'ezztl lirit-aiu and Ireland. lihlillll at flan-kinStation, in the z-tamty of Allcgn'eny and .ltate of len n;: i'li'ania.have invented :1 new and useful lu1 \Yitliil'. A. wry high perm-ntage ofheavy tar in yrodueed at i'il degre s Flux, and down t TU d grees Flux,-i.1i.a'q|u-ntl y all or nearly m all the heavy tar is eliminated fromthe gas during lls paxc-ageuhrough the first washer,

movement; in Methods of luri 'in Coali and it enters the eondenser at u'tent )erature I,

tins rad Collecting lly-Produr-o, of which low. enough, nay ahoutdegrees Flux, to

improvement the Lt-llowing is a spceificat prev nt the ammonia passingoff with the u,

tion, reference being had. therein to the a- 5 gas as a vapor. and atwhic temperature mmpanymg rlruwin s. in whieh- ;the ammonia, or a verylugh-. pereentage Figure 1 indicate; .1 diagraunnatic View of myunproven plant for collecting the by products of coal. ga Fig. 2 is a reetiomzl 1 the same of. the final washer. Fig. lan elevation of thewz.:-'her. Fig. :7 is :1 d tail 5 f the tank connected with washer. Fig.t3 i i.- a U'tHhTei's ser-tion f the same.

Fig. 7

i a x- 'tional view of the regulatiiig valve. of} washer. Fig. a new ofstill lltllll n i .'-'er-tion. l-ig. U is a longitudinal e tioual viewof sulfate. in; or !-lllll'2ll(l'. Fig. 10 an elevation. partly in-.se-ztion, of one of the liquorl'mazi'r. l"i; ll is a seetional plan ofsame showing one of the series of perl'erated plates ther in; Fig. is aser- I tional elevation of inen? the team hell. 5

Inn. of the tar. is. and Figs. H and 15 re elevation and plan views, ofthe eondenHt-r spray. Y

My invention relateto method of produet lag and t'ollwttilig thelryu'mluuts ot' Hull/l gas. andthe oh m-t 04' my imenti n-Fr to inere w,the permniage of uuunonia and other valuable li ,'-prmln(:l$-2fll eoalgasand to this purpose my invention 1'. wists, broadly Stated, in.lll'hi, iunnediately the heat d gas has been msseil into the firstwasher free the :iumn t roin all or nearly all the heavy tar andthereaftegjhy maintaining the gas at. the pm temperature, free the :ameof all or mmr form of liquor.

in rurrying out. my invention I employ the xyn em of apparatusillustrated in the accompanying :lr: rings and h reinafter deserni-e-l.the same, however, its to arrangement and mash-notion, may liehunk-lull, varie with ut departing from my intention. li: varr; 1;; outmv invention it is highlv 5 f tel gnaw he reducer: i

l watt 2'") i- ..2' ml {of animoniaral liquor.

. in its thereof. freed from the gas in the fornL It is -eonsequentlyhighiy important that the gas be reduced to 7:)

and nmintained at m helow this temperature,

assagv through the condensers. in -order to obtain Hm highest possiblepercent- L'e. of .unuioniaeul liquor and of high speie gravity. 'tionprimarilyrousists in separating the tar from the when the gas is at; aconsiderable temperature, say at from 90 to degree: Fhr. by passingthesame through a.

hodv of Waller and eliminating the ammonia 8 front the ga when at alower temperature, say from 60 to 50 degrees Flm, and subsequently, whenthe gas has been very greatly 1'L l l 't".1l in temperature and beforeitis udmitt ll to the di .trihuting main, eliminating 5 the lighter tarand the liquor containing-.1.

less percentage of ammonia and of less speeifie gravity.

lwill no v tleserilie the system of appao carry out. my process ormethod, referenee being had to the accompanying drawings, in which likereference characters indi't-ate like parts wherever they occur.

lteferriufig to said drawings, rise conduit 15 or pipe tlt'flpifll tocarry the gas from a produce! or other source of sugply (not shown) tothe first or initial was er, 2, the gas which is at least 300 degrees Fhr. 15

aaid washer by means of engines :0, m, and all or nearly all the heavytar eliminated therefrom. and the temperature thereof retlur'etl'loabout degrees Flu. or belowthat. degree in its passage through the water5- eontained in said washer. By the force of said engines the gas isthen drawn down through the pipes. ll. 1 and 5 into the conilens -n 6.and the, teuqierature reduced from eft in: first lulu-r to 60 degrees lhr. at. whirl; tem 'wmlure all the ammonia couln otherwords.inyinvert-'75 ratuses and, the operation thereof adapted M y allammonia. iuthethen drawn through the water contained in iii-(imam. Ail);l-elow 9 degrees l 'hlz. at whit-h degree it.

tained in the gas is separated therefrom in the form of ammouiacalliqu-r, and. the said liquor drawn therefrom as hereinafter described.The gas now reduced to a temperature below 60 degrees Fhr. is drawn bythe force of said engines into the high cylindrical. tanks 7 and 8,through the pipes 7 and 8" connecting said condenser with said tanksrespectively. Prior to its exit from said condensers the temperature ofthe gas is reduced and maintained at or below (30 degrees Fhr. by theconstant discharge of water over said condensers, the water being pumpedor forced through the pipes 1), 9,

into the spray pipe 10 the failing water therefrom striking the entireupper surface of said condenser for such purpose. The gas when reducedto this temperature is freed from all the heavy tar and substantiallyall the ammonia contained therein, and is then forced by said enginesthrough the second series of washers 11, 12 and 13 which are connectedby suitable pipes 14 to admit of this. In its passa e' through thissecond series of washers (the specific construction of which will belater described) the temperature of the gas is further reduced and freedof whatever tar and ammonia that-may remain therein, the tar at suchstage of the process being ve much lighter in quality than that chtaine'at the first washer when the gas was atmuch higher temperature and theainmoniacal liquor then obtained being very much reduced in strength,both these elements are drawn otf and treated as hereinafter specified.The gas being entirely freed of all byproducts is admitted froin thefinal washer 13 into the distributing main 15 which may be provided witha series of test holes at which the gas may be tested to determine itschemical character and is conveyed from said distributing, main to thetar stills 16, 17, 18 through the pi-es 19, 20, 21, 22 for utilizationas hcreina ter set forth.

The lay-products obtained by means of the process described comprisingheavy tar, obtained. at the first washer by the sudden reduction intemperature of the gas, ammoniacal liquor, obtained at the condenserwhere the temperature of the gas is still further reduced, and the li httar and weak amnioniacal liquor subsequently obtained are, respectively,drawn from the first washer condenser and the second series of washers,

respectively, as hereinafter described, and subsequently treated ashereinafter set forth. The heavy tar eliminated from the gas at thefirst washer as heretofore described, is conveyed therefrom through thepipe 23 to the tar vat or tank, 24, therefrom it is admitted into thecharging .tank 27, throu h the pipe 28, by air pressure admitted to t ecylindrical vessels 25 and 26 through the .65

pipe 29 connected to the air pipe or conduit 30 which is connected withthe air reservoir 31 by means of the pipe 32, the said pipe 29 beingprovided with a valve 33 to control the admission of air to saidcylindrical vessels. From said charging tank 27, the tar is conveyed tothe stills 16, 1 7 18 (the specific construction of which will be laterdescribed) by means of the pipe or conduit 34 and by distillation, pitchand oil produced therefrom. The pitch is conveyed from said stillsthrough the pipe 35 and pipe 36 which connects with the cylindricalvessel 37, and from thence it is conveyed to the pitch vats 38, 38, 38,by means of the pipe pipe and from the separator the said. liquor isconveyed to the liquortank 47,

through the pipe 48.

It is possible under certain conditions that anunomacal liquor ofsufiicient strength tobe conveyed to th liquor tank may be collected inthe tanks 7, 8, between the condenser and the first washer of the secondseries together with the light tar, in which.

event such liquor is conveyed to the separator, and said tanks, whichare connected to the pi e 49, also communicate with the separator bymeans of the short pipes, 49', 49', 40. It may also occur that underconditions hereinafter set forth ammoniacal liquor of liquor tank isobtained at the first washer of the second series which is connectedwith pipe 48 by means of pipe 50 to carry such iquor to said liquortank. Ammoniacal liquor too weak to charge into the "li uor tank isobtained at the second and a1 washer of the second series ofwashersandalso weak tar, which liquor and tar are carried, respectively,to the two cylindrical tanks, 51, 52, by means of )ipes 53 and 54,connected therewith, which iquor contained in tank 51, is carried totank 55 by means of pipe 56, and this li nor is again carried throughwasher 11, t rough p1pe'57, with new gas to be operated upon. The li httar contained in tank 52, is carried is rough pipe 58, into the tank 59,and therefrom into the first washer 2, of the second series of- Washers,by means of the short pipe 59, where its strength is so considerablyaugmented that it may be conveyed to the heavy tar tank through pipe'23, as heretofore described.

105. sufiicient strength to bercharged into the? which are connm-tedtherewith f, the. short.

therewith by pipe 3;, through the conduit or pipe (14, into the liquorcharging tank, (-5. The auuuoniacal liquor.contanu-d in charging tankti?) is passed therefrom through the coil titi, into the towers (3T,(35, by means of pipes (it), 70, which enter the same near the topthereof; steam is admitted to the said towers (the particularcom-(friction of which will be later described-which acting upon thefalling liquor raises the temperature thereof and converts the ammoniatherein into vapor which asses out through pipes 71, 72,-1nto the sofate box or saturatcr .73, which contains sulfuric acid which ischargcdtherein from tank 74-. through the pipe. 7.3.

To get the best, possible results the acid is diluted from 144 instrength to 48; it is important to so dilute the acid as when above thisin strength the resultant sulfate of ammonia carries an excess of acidand when below this in strength the ammoniacal vapor is not convertedinto a sultid and e capes as vapor. The pipe 76, through which the vaporis conveyed to the sulfate box is perforated at: the end and submergedin the acid for the purpose of permitting the vapor to be dischargedinto the arid in series of jets and therein converted into sulfate ofammonia. It is important.- tlierel'ore to keep the acid at the properdegree of dilution mentioned to obtain all the ammonia andiu the best,condition for commercial use. 'l'luwashers are all constructed as shownin Fig. :3. excepting \\'il -lltl. 13, which is cons ru tcd as shown inFig. 3. li. Fig.1, the \\'a.-hcr is lm\\')i as being su divided intocoinpzutnn-nts u, I; and c, u and I: lacing separated by the vrrticallvdisposed partition l; and from hath u and II, by tlnhoriz ntallydisposed partition c, which is provided with numerous minuteperforations through which the gas ascends and misses out of the pipesH, in passing out ot either of the washers 11 to 13, inclusive, orthrough pipe 4, when par-sing from'washer 2 into the condenser 6. Thefinal Washer 13. is constructed intcriorlv as shown in Fig. 3, in whichthe interior is subdivided into series of eompartmeuts, K K, K", K, K,K, K". K is separated from K by the solid vertical partition it, andfrom K by the perforated horizontally disposed partition K". K, K K, K",are separated by perforated partitions K", K' K", and the compartment Kis subdivided by the partition which extends about half way the heightot said compartment. A constant supply of water is maintained in all thewashers, sutlicieitt'to just snlunerge. the.

partition 1:, through which the gas rushes and is freed, at. the fil'hiwasher, of all the heavy tar which is drawn oli' direetly therefrom. Thewashers ll, 12, and 155 of the weak :wunoniacal l-tt through which these ond St'il=" are provided with xtensions ll". i2, 115' into which thelight tar and i-u' is reccnczi and cut of which they are iii'iWH as hertofore dcscrihcsl. The said extensions being subdivided intoconmarimcnts 5, 1 g, by the partitions li, IL? h terminating at ashortdistance below the tippci edge of of the tttHli and having avalwllow capable of being adjm-tt-d to liquor or \Hltt?! levels by thescrew l t the purpose oi taking oi? the l lH't'tlHl ul'c i)t-"ilittl :illill tl' lil l t'l the. compartments 5 y". ar provid d with valves l andsini lar 1: co valve Z and for th poiose of mg oti, at various levelsthe heavy to: in 3; and th aimuoniacal liquor in 5/" as heretofore specitied, the partihon Ii" terminates at nhou! six inches from the b ttom ofcoinpmtmeni y in order to deposit the heavy tar therein up to suchlevel.

.\ll of the \va l w and aim the sepeu'ator, are provided with ":plvrs ofsimilar.- we struct ion to that slumn in Fig. and are for the purpose ofregulating the level of die o'iertlmv of thc ditYcrL-m bymrodur s'contained in th tilHiHin-l'h' to \v ich they are appl ed. The tow rsinto which and falls are shown in se-tzoa in Fig. it), and are providedwith steam Hilcl pins-s f f, =1" whi: 3i steam from any suitanle somesaid towers. and coming in contact. with the falling :t,iiiiiioiiia(-:iliiquoz, the descent of which i hroio-n by coming in contact wi h lmledges arranged in -13! toners, converts said liquor into an:oznnoniacal vapor which enters the ulfate-thus. or .satti' t l, throughl N pipe-1H. lltc hitter i'lt'l Us which i per forat d. through .LFEI'lie vap r csra ws and passes upward 'olig'l: the d'hitedrui' [uricacid, conv rts of ammonia which i rczuo cd th n-From is}: ladles. Afteror it re the eiiiuinatims of the ammonia the residue ontained in thesulfate box is conveyed tom: evaporating pan (not shown), by means ofthe pipe 77, where the. liquid is evaporated and converted into potash.The said towers 67, (SB, are 'u'ovided with series of perf rat d platesu a. supported upon in 's b formed on the s des thereof, the said p ateshaving numerous perforations r," a immediate] over each of which isloosely secured bel is or cone shaped cups (1' a" into which the steamad mitted through the smal wrforations is received and passes outthrough the lower serrated sides, coming in contact with the anunoniaculliquor which overflows around the same and is \iiS-'ii.tl'g(.ii int. thenext: succeeding plate through iipes e titer-eh heating up the liquorand converting the amin nmcel liquor finally van-ta into a sulfate lJU-- the temperature of the gas sufiieient'l y to prethrou h the sulfatebox as heretofore de scriber Having described my invention what I claimand desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. The process of purifyingcoal as and collecting the byproducts thereo' which consists, first, incooling the gas suiiicicntly to precipitate outthe heavy tar andseparately collecting said heavy tar, second. rcdueing the temperatureof the gas, after precipitation of the heavy tar, to such an extent thatthe ammonia in the gas will be precipitated in the form of ammoniacalliquor and separately collecting said ammoniaca .liquor, and finally,still further reducing the temperature of the gas snificiently to removetherefrom the lighter tar, and the weaker ammonia in the form ofanimoniacal liquor before introducing the gas to the distrih utmg mam,and separately collecting the -weaker ammoniacal liquor and lighter tar.

- 2. The process of pa ifying coal gas and collecting the by-productsthereof which consists, first, in passing the gas through a water washerand thereby reducing the temperature of the gassufliciently toprecipitate out the heavy tar and separately collecting said heavy tar,.second, passing the gas through a condenser and thereby reducingeipitate the ammonia in the form of am- 'moniacal liquor and separatelycollecting said ammoniacal liquor, andxfinall passing the gas throughanother waierwas ter and therey still further reducing the tenqmratureof the gas sufficiently to remove therefrom the lighter tar, and-theweaker ammonia in the form of ammoniacal liquor before introducing thegas to the distributing main and separately collecting the weakerammohiaea liquor and lighter tar.

ll. The herein described method or process of purifyin' coal gas andcollecting the byproducts tm-reut' which onsists In first, charging thegas at a temperature of 300 degree:- Fahrcnln-it or thereabout, througha washer and thereby reducing the tempera-. ture of the gas to from t")it 70 degrees Fahrenheit and eliminating by such reductiml oftenqa-ratnre substantially or nearly all of the tar from the gas andseparately collecting the tar. then lowering thefltempcrature ot' thegas to from 00 to 5 degrees I Fahrenheit and thereby eliminating theammonia from the gas in the formot ammoniacal liquor and separatelycollecting the anmmmaeal liquor, and by subsequent treatmentmaintaining, the gas at a relatively low temperature and therebyeliminating any tar or annnonia remaining associated i with the gashclore introduction of the gas to the distributing main. I 4. The hereindescribed method or process of purifying coal gas and collecting thebyproducts thereofi which consists in passing the ga at a temperature of300 l ahrenheit or t hereabout, through a washer and there- -v reducingthe temperature of the gas to a temperature sutlicient to eliminatesubstantially all the tar from-the gas, then lowering to and maintainingthe gas at a temperatnr= suiiieicnt to prevent the ammonia presentassuming gaseous form, and finally by a further reduction in temperatureeliminate. the lighter. tar and the liquor containing the remainingammonia.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS MC'WATTERS. In the presence of CLARENCE A. WILLIAMS, ALnxAnnmiMoKIM, Sr.

